Newspapers / The Brunswick beacon. / Dec. 12, 1991, edition 1 / Page 19
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Indoor Plants Need Proper Lighting The correct quantity, quality and duration of light is very important to healthy indoor plant growth. A mixture ol fluorescent and in candescent light provides plants with the optimum light quality. A rican violets (Sutnlpuului ioruinlhu) do well with as little as MX) loot candles of light, but most foliage plants require *S(K) ftx>l -candles lor more optimum growth Most foliage plant experts recommend 12 hours of artificial light for plants in envi ronments with low natural light con ditions. Proper lighting is essential lor vigorous nuluir plant growth. Natural sunlight contains the full spectrum of light neccssary for plant growth. Plants primarily utilize the shorter and longer wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum (the blues and reds) while reflecting the intermediate wavelengths (greens). Plants are green because they are ab sorbing most of the visible light spectrum and reflecting the green light. In general, the shorter wave lengths of light are responsible for photosynthesis (lixxl production lor the plant). The longer wavelengths of light (reds) arc important in photosynthe sis and setting the plants' biological clock. Artificial lights vary in the quality of light emitted. Incandescent light bulbs produce a spcctnim that is THE PLANT DOCTOR C. BRUCE WILLIAMS A.'.r tension Area Turf Specialist mostly concentrated in the longer wavelengths (reds) while the cool white lluurescent lamps produce a spectrum concentrated in the blue em! of the spectrum. "Grow lights" are specially constructed to give ad ditional red light, but usually this is not sufficient for optimum plant growth. Most research indicates that a combination of cool, white lluo rcsccnt and incandescent lamps pro duces the light best lor plant growth. Light quantity or intensity for plant growth is usually measured in units called loot-candles or lux. On a bright, sunny, cloudless June day at noon, the light intensity of the Cape Fear region will Ik around 5, MM) to 6, (XX) loot-candles. CkhxI reading light intensity is usually be tween 1(X) and 2(X) foot-candles. The light intensity can be easily de termined using a light meter. Most camera/photography supply stores stock inexpensive light meters that will give light readings in fool-tan tiles. Plants have internal biological tune clocks that are affected by light duration. Due to the bending of sun light by the earth's atmosphere, the lirst light in the morning and the last light in the day is normally red light. Plants have developed an elabo rate biochemital mechanism that is extremely sensitive to red light. This mechanism allows the plant to mca sure the daylight with great actura cy. A daylcnglh of less than 12 hours will induce poinscuias, chrysanthe mums and many other "short day" plants to llowcr. A daylcnglh ol greater than 12 hours will induce "long day" plants like althea, lushsia and winter wheal to flower. Scientists call this response pholopenodism. However, not all plants exhibit a phoiopcriod response. Many of the tropical foliage plants, fruit trees and vegetable plants arc classified as "day neutral" plants because ol the lack of phoiopcriod response 'flic best book I have seen on the lighting requirements and care of in door foliage plants is called Indoor Plants by Bnggs and Calvin (pub lished in 19S7 by Wiley and Sons Inc.). Send your Hardening questions to The Plant Doctor. P.O. Box 11)9. Bolivia. N.C. 2X422. For a response, please send a SASE. CLUB BRIEFS Pilot Club Of South Brunswick Islands' Honored The Pilol Club of South Bruns wick Islands is sharing in a national award. On Oct. 6, Pilot International clubs received the National Award of Merit in the 1991 Citation Awards Program of the National Safety Council. The Pilot Club of South Bruns wick Islands, as part of die the na tional organization, shares the honor and works in a local level to im prove the quality of lilc in their area. Their annual service report evalua tion look place Nov. 19 and will be reported to the national officers. President Nellie Westbrook said that along with its usual community volunteer work, die club will now be offering a catering service to raise funds for their service projects. Interested persons can call (iitii Gore, 579-4474, or Susan Morgan, H42-9I0A, evenings, for information. It's Regular Dinner The dinner scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, by the Calabash VFW Post 72XX Ladies Auxiliary, is not a Chrisunas dinner as was previ ously reported by The Beacon. The dinner is the group's regular monthly dinner, rescheduled from the second Saturday to the third Saturday of the month. Holiday Luncheon Set The Sunset Sands Garden Club i will meet today (Thursday) at 1:30 p.m. at tX'rbsier's Restaurant in Calabash tor their annual Christmas luncheon. A short business meeting will fol low to organize cookie donations. Members plan to distribute the cookies to residents in the Seaside area who live alone or are in ill health. Also, the club plans to donate money to a local family with a dis abled child. Club Holds Auction Long Bay Garden Club held its annual November action at the home of Tom and Vickie Jones Nov. 21 with about 35 members and guests in attendance. Jerry Stand land and A I l.aughinghouse, autioneers of the evening's event, sold handmade crafts, flower arrangements horticul ture items and baked goods to raise a total of SI, 296. President Ann Laughinghousc ex plained before the event that the auction was the only fund-raising event of the year and thai the pro ceeds go to local projects such as a scholarship, holiday baskets to Hope Harbor Home, and the bcaulificalion of the Brunswick Adult Day Care Center, West Brunswick Branch Library and Shallotte Senior Citizens Center. Members voted to donate S75 for plantings to go in the courtyard out side ihe library at Shalloitc Middle School. Homes Will Be Judged The Holdcn Beach Bcauliflcalion Committee will judge island homes thai have been decorated for the Christmas holiday on Sunday night, Dec. 15. Residents should have their deco rative lights turned on for the benefit of the judges, said spokesperson Elizabeth Tandy. Yard Chosen The pine straw landscaped yard of William and Isobcl Sleight, 24 Carolina Shores Parkway, is the Carolina Shores Garden Club's December "Yard of the Month". Varied shades of green shrubbery provide color and definition, while a pyracantha espaliered on the Ironi wall of their home adds a decorative I ouch. uper Santa Savers Shop at. vVV 7 . 579-1293 ^ Traders Village Calabash^ Santa isn't the only one who'll be coming to town this holiday season MM They're almost here. Those folks from out of town that usually drive you out of your bed. This year let Store Name help you be prepared Welcome them with a sofa that gives them a luxurious place to sleep ... and you a comfortable place to sit. Lots of styles in stock. Lots of money to save on / an of them this week J. LIVINGSTON 9-5:30 Mon-Sat. Highway 17 North, Little River, SC (803)249-6188 Celebrating The Season A crowd of dhoiil 40 people braved bitter-cold temperatures last Thursday night to natch the lighting of the Shallotte Christmas tree while the West Brunswick High School band and chorus entertained with carols and songs of the holiday season. John Fazekas of the Rotary Club, one of the groups spon soring the event, estimated the tree is "about II feet tall." 9\[ice ^Pretty m ? RESORT INTERIORS & WICKER IMPORTS ^ We're moving soon to our >tew Long Beach Rd. store. I /J H so zee' re having a super J H } Moving Sale yQJl <( Don't miss these savings throughout the store on I furnishings, bedding, lamps & more. I Mon.-Sat. 10-5 ? Jet. 211 & 133, Southport ? 457-6444 i' it >'? FINE ART & FRAMING Give a lasting gift this year and save at our pre-Christmas sale! Select Framed Art 20%-50% Off Select Group Prints 1/2 Price Ready-Made Frames 1/2 Price Sale ends Jan. 4 Open Tues. -Sat. 10-5:30. Closed Sun. & Mon. EXPERT CUSTOM FRAMING ? CALABASH LOW COUNTRY STORES ? 579-6284 The Christmas Gift That Gives All Year Long HotSpring PiirtiiblcSf\is % America's Favorite Portable Spa # Fun For The Entire Family '? ./ % Low Monthly Payments Available % Buy Today. Soak Bv Christmas o o d
Dec. 12, 1991, edition 1
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